The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad

Secret Sharer Sam Reary

In "The Secret Sharer" by Joseph Conrad, Conrad shows the strengthening of the trust within a large group through the connection between two. A fort night ago, the captain becomes aware he will take on his new ship. On the ship, he feels alone on the ship, detached from the rest of the crew. Leggatt came from the Sephora. He killed a man and had to escape,,swimming over to the narrator's ship. Although The captain and Leggatt's relationship involves difference such as how they display emotions, their value of social status, and Their type of problems they are escaping, they share major similarities such as how they remind themselves of eachother, they share a similar childhood, and they both need each other. When Leggatt speaks to the captain, the captain sees himself: "The Voice was calm and resolute. A good voice. The self-possession of that man had somehow induced a corresponding state within myself."(Conrad 129) The captain feels no sense of belonging with the crew. He sees this similarity as a possible connection, a friend when no others are there. This makes him more comfortable with allowing Leggatt on board. The captain and Leggatt both went to the same boarding school: "'A pretty thing to have to own up to for a Conway boy.' 'You're a Conway boy?' 'I am,' he said, as if startled. Then slowly... ' Perhaps you too-' It was so."(Conrad 131) This further shows their similarity. Leggatt's life mirrors the captains at this point. The first real thing in common with a person while on this voyage. And finally they both need each other. The captain needs the friendship and connection that Leggatt provides. Leggatt needs the captain to hide him from the crew of the Sephora. These similarities make the captain and Leggatt seem like the same person in two bodies.

Although there similarities make them almost the same person, they have many differences as well. The captain keeps his emotions to himself while Leggatt shows his emotions on the surface: "'There's a ship's boat coming our way, Sir.' I saw him give a start- the first movement he had made for hours."(38) Leggatt does not try to hide his fear. He shows it openly. While the captain is running away from mental and emotional problems while Leggatt runs from physical problems. Captain Archbold is looking